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World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific to Launch in 2013, Offer Five Bracelets

by Wicked Chops Entity on 5.1.2012 in Poker News | no comments

The WSOP is making its way down under.

On Monday the World Series of Poker, in a partnership with the Crown Casino, announced the launching of the WSOP Asia-Pacific. The latest expansion of the WSOP brand is set to begin in April of 2013 and will offer five bracelet events.

Rumors of the partnership were running rampant earlier this year as WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart was spotted at the Crown Casino during the Aussie Millions. A few months later, the event is inked and ready to go. Says Ty:

“Our goal is to establish the worldwide grand slam of poker and use our platform to elevate the game through a series of major championships.”

This is, as far as we can remember, the first time the WSOP has discussed establishing a “grand slam of poker.” The grand slam concept is something many high-profile players have expressed interest in for years. How the WSOP attempts to market and pull this off could be challenging–especially since players revere events like the WPT Championship, EPT Grand Final, and the Crown’s own Aussie Millions. However, having a Grand Slam of events is something identifiable with the public and mainstream media and could certainly raise the profile of the game if pulled off properly.

Read more about the WSOP APACTM here.

Tagged as: featured, Poker News, world series of poker, WSOP, WSOP APAC

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Will Failla Leads WPT Jacksonville BestBet Open

by Wicked Chops Entity on 4.30.2012 in Poker Tournaments | no comments

With another deep run, Will Failla is looking to bag up a WPT POY title.

With 16 remaining, Will Failla leads the WPT Jacksonville BestBet Open.

Failla has been on a tear of late. He has already captured one World Poker Tour title this season (the Legends of Poker) and currently sits second in the WPT POY race behind Joe Serock. Failla also won a HPT event in St. Louis in March. Over the past 12 months, Failla has 14 live event cashes.

Failla is stacked at 1,360,000. He’s followed by Peter Campo with 1,269,000.

Other notables remaining include the equi-on-a-tear Matt Marafioti (617,000) and Tony Dunst (469,000).

Allen “Chainsaw” Kessler min-cashed for $9,610.

First place will earn $400,600.

Get full chip counts here.

Tagged as: World Poker Tour

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Mohsin Charania Wins 2012 EPT Grand Final

by Wicked Chops Entity on 4.30.2012 in Poker Tournaments | no comments

That was a close call.

It almost happened again.

In 2007, Annette Obrestad almost caused an early end to civilization. Obrestad, a woman, captured the first WSOP Europe Main Event title. While the skies opened, and fire did in fact rain down from the heavens, and the seas did rise, and Swiss musician Jean Balissat met his untimely passing…the world as a whole did not in fact end that day.

As we all know, according to the Mayans, the end will actually happen this year. Probably not too long after our civilization starts having Death Races (also supposed to happen this year). Regardless, the end nearly started sooner than we all anticipated as Lucille Cailly,  a woman, came thisclose to capturing the 2012 EPT Grand Final.

Fortunately for humanity, Mohsin Charania saved us all, or for another few months at least. After some deal cutting negotiating, Moshin won the 2012 EPT Grand Final, banking €1,350,000 and defeating Cailly (€1,050,000) heads-up for the title.

Cailly, had she won, would’ve actually become the first woman to beat a man in anything since Obrestad’s 2007 WSOPE victory. For real. Google it. Hasn’t happened.

A bunch of Euros you’ve never head of finished 3-8. Get full chip counts here.

* Photo courtesy of PokerStars Blog.

Tagged as: EPT Grand Final, featured, Lucille Cailly, Mohsin Charania, Poker News

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Amarillo Slim Passes Away at 83

by Wicked Chops Entity on 4.30.2012 in Poker News | no comments

As we came to learn at this meeting with Amarillo Slim at the 2009 WSOP, the man lived an interesting, complicated, and challenging life.

The poker world lost a legendary–and controversial–figure early Sunday morning as Thomas Austin Preston, Jr., aka “Amarillo Slim,” passed away at the age of 83. Slim had been battling colon cancer.

Amarillo Slim was the first true poker celebrity. He parlayed a 1972 WSOP Main Event victory into a series of appearances on mainstream television shows, including as a regular guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Born on December 31, 1928, in Arkansas, Slim eventually found his way to gambling and poker. He forged friendships with Doyle Brunson and other old Texas road gamblers, and, through his celebrity, was instrumental in popularizing the game of poker. For these contributions, Slim was eventually inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992.

In May of 2003, Slim released an autobiography titled Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People. The book was rumored to be turned into a biopic on his life, with Nicolas Cage playing Slim, but the project was dropped. Later in 2003, Slim was indicted in Randall County, Texas on charges of indecency with a 12-year-old child (and family member). Slim eventually pled “no contest” to reduced misdemeanor assault charges. He paid a $4,000 fine, served probation, and was required to undergo counseling.

Slim made sporadic appearances at the WSOP over the past few years despite his deteriorating health. Over his live tournament career, he earned $568,731 and four WSOP bracelets. His last live cash fittingly was at the Binions Poker Open in 2009.

Read extended stories about Amarillo Slim’s life on Amarillo.com here.

Tagged as: amarillo slim

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WPT Jacksonville BestBet Open Draws 320; Failla, Dempsey Among Leaders

by Wicked Chops Entity on 4.29.2012 in Poker Tournaments | no comments

Since 1882, there has only been 11 confirmed deaths by shark attack in Florida. For real. Look it up.

Days 1A and 1B of the 2012 WPT Jacksonville BestBet Open drew a field of 320. A total of 160 survived to the merged Day 2.

Also, for those wondering what bestbet is, here you go (abridged summation: three Jacksonville casinos featuring poker and greyhound racing).

Darren Elias leads the Day 2 field stacked at 213,600. He’s followed by Amine Chabaney with 193,500.

A couple of brothers closely follow in the top 10 stacks, as David Jackson has 150,000 and Ralph Robinson has 138,000.

Also among the early chip leaders are Will Failla (132,600) and iSeriesLIVE champ James Dempsey (114,300).

Many recognizable names still litter the field. Get full chip counts here.

Tagged as: World Poker Tour

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